Transom soot

mquiet

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2009
1,500
North carolina
Boat Info
1999 480 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Caterpillar 3196
hello CRS diesel gurus. I had a rough day at sea and with a strong station wagon effect the entire back of the boat has soot. We were so tired when we got in that we did not clean boat til morning and now normal boat soap will not clean it. My cats run super clean but after 10 hours of running it will dirty the back of the boat. Anybody use anything other than going to hull cleaner? I figure I need something more agreesive. Thanks
 
Roll-Off cleaner works well for me for cleaning soot.
 
Try a cheap wax. It seems to cut through the diesel soot quickly.
 
I've used Starbrite Cleaner Wax previously, it does a good job of removing the soot, and then protecting the gel coat for the next time you get sooted, it'll be easier to clean.

Kevin
 
I used Or Pine to clean. I figured I would need to use Roll-off but maybe cut it with water. Also have thought about cleaner wax. I will try this weekend. Thanks.
 
If you have a good coat of wax on the surface already then any good spray cleaner wax should do it.
That’s what I use.
I use spray wax for the dreaded black streaks too.
A straight cleaner will strip off the wax you have on the surface and unless you immediately wax it again it will make it that much harder to clean the next time.
 
I would replace those Cats with some good old Detroits, that won't happen. :):):):):):)
 
Mr Clean magic erasers. Need to put a coat of wax on afterwards but they easily remove diesel soot as well as the dreaded black streaks.
 
hello CRS diesel gurus. I had a rough day at sea and with a strong station wagon effect the entire back of the boat has soot. We were so tired when we got in that we did not clean boat til morning and now normal boat soap will not clean it. My cats run super clean but after 10 hours of running it will dirty the back of the boat. Anybody use anything other than going to hull cleaner? I figure I need something more agreesive. Thanks
A fuel dock hand was telling me about a product called Diesel Punch that you add to the duel and it eliminates the soot. Haven't tried it yet and having a hard time finding it. Anybody have experience with Diesel Punch?
 
Attack it at the source............

Soot is just unburned fuel. It usually comes from overloading the engines a bit where more fuel is injected than the engines can burn at the throttle setting you are using. You can try reducing the throttle setting a bit, using a diesel fuel additive that increases Cetane a measurable amount, etc. And, if your props need checking, try reducing pitch a bit so that under normal loading, your engines turn slightly under the rated rpms @ WOT.
 
I've used magic erasers on my gelcoat, but typically only if I'm prepping for a full wax. Sometimes there are things that can't get removed without them.
 
Magic Erasers are mildly abrasive and will strip any wax you have on the surface.
As long as you know that when using them on your gelcoat, and proceed accordingly, you should be fine.
Mildly rubbing a wet and soapy gel coat surface with one will help remove some stubborn marring when other less aggressive options may not, but remember to reapply wax afterwards.
Avoid using them on anything like vinyl cushions, etc., with a textured surface though.
I would avoid using them on cars altogether. Especially on clear coated painted surfaces.
There are much better, faster, and easier ways to get dirt or soot off of your transom.
If the gelcoat is kept properly waxed then using a spray version of a cleaner wax will make short work of removing soot, black streaks, dirt, bird droppings, etc..
It will also leave the surface with some wax protection on it rather than stripping it.
I always have a spray bottle of Meguiars 59 handy on the boat to deal with those things that pop up in between washings.
My OCD demands it.
I know that I will have black streaks on my transom below the canvas line after most rainfalls, and occasionally get some sooting around the exhaust discharges.
The spray “cleaner wax” makes wiping those things off with a microfiber a breeze.
Keeping your gelcoat properly waxed and protected is key and will make most things that get on it pretty easy to remove without resorting to the use of harsh, aggressive, or abrasive methods.
 
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